As soon as dessert was finished and the story-telling laughter died down, Lise turned to me, her brown eyes gleaming with mischief and something far more serious. Her grin widened, showing a sharpness that matched her words.
"So, Mini-Zephara," she began, casually leaning back in her chair, "you think you're really cut out to carry that title, huh?"
I stiffened, narrowing my eyes at her. "Mini-Zephara? Really? That's the best you've got?"
Lise shrugged, her blue hair cascading messily around her shoulders. "What? It fits. You've got her fire, her attitude, and, apparently, her temper. But talk is cheap. I want to see if you're actually worthy of being Leora's granddaughter."
My jaw tightened, but I couldn't stop the thrill of excitement that ran through me. I knew exactly what she meant.
"You're challenging me?"
Leora groaned, setting her fork down with an exaggerated sigh. "Not in my dining room, you're not."
"I wasn't planning on it," Lise said, smirking as she stood. "I wouldn't want to damage your precious table, Leora. Besides, I think the kid could use a proper arena."
"Kid?" I stood as well, rolling my shoulders. "You're seriously underestimating me."
"Prove it, Mini-Zephara."
"Enough with the nickname!"
Leora pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something about her sanity. "Fine. But if you're going to do this, take it outside. If I hear so much as a scratch on my walls, you're both banned from dessert for a month."
Lise snorted. "Deal."
I gave Leora a quick smile. "Don't worry. I'll leave her ego intact enough to walk back inside."
Lise just laughed. "Big talk. Let's see if you can back it up."
---
The courtyard was vast, surrounded by towering stone walls that bore the scars of countless battles. It was the perfect place for a fight. The cool breeze carried the scent of grass and stone, and the sky above was a brilliant canvas of blue.
Lise stood a few paces away, her bow already in hand. She moved with practiced ease, her stance loose but brimming with readiness. The bow itself was a work of art—sleek, dark wood that seemed to shimmer faintly in the light. She notched an arrow, her grin sharp and eager.
"Last chance to back out, Mini-Zephara," she teased, pulling the string back.
I didn't answer with words. Instead, I summoned my flames, purple fire erupting around me like an aura. The heat rolled off me in waves, but the core of the flames burned cold, focused.
Lise's smirk faltered for just a moment before she recovered. "Alright then. Let's see what you've got."
---
The first arrow came faster than I expected, streaking toward me like a beam of light. I barely had time to throw up a wall of flame, the arrow disintegrating as it met the heat.
"You're quick," I said, grinning. "But you'll need more than that."
"Oh, don't worry," Lise replied, already firing three more arrows in rapid succession. "I've got plenty more."
I dodged two and deflected the third, countering with a wave of flame that roared toward her. She leaped to the side, her movements agile and precise, and fired another arrow mid-air.
This one wasn't ordinary. It glowed brighter, almost blindingly, and when it hit the ground near me, it exploded in a burst of light. I stumbled back, momentarily disoriented.
"Not bad," I admitted, shaking off the effect. "But you're going to have to do better than fireworks."
Lise grinned. "Challenge accepted."
---
The fight escalated quickly. Lise moved like a dancer, her arrows a flurry of light that forced me to stay on the defensive. But I wasn't just taking hits—I was learning.
I began to anticipate her movements, countering her arrows with precise blasts of flame. The ground around us was scorched and marked with glowing craters, a testament to the intensity of our battle.
At one point, she managed to graze my arm with an arrow, the searing pain driving me to dig deeper into my power. I retaliated with a spiraling column of fire that forced her to leap back, landing in a roll to avoid being engulfed.
"You're holding back," she called, her tone both taunting and impressed. "Come on, Mini-Zephara. Show me what you're really made of."
Her words struck a nerve, and I felt the fire within me surge. With a roar, I summoned twin whips of flame, lashing out at her with a ferocity that made her eyes widen.
Lise barely managed to dodge, the edges of her hair singed as she rolled to safety. She fired another arrow, this one splitting into smaller projectiles mid-air. I spun, my flames forming a protective vortex that consumed the attack.
"Not bad yourself," I said, smirking. "But I think it's time we finish this."
---
The final moments of the fight were a blur of movement and power. Lise launched her strongest attack—a massive arrow of pure light that seemed to crackle with energy. It flew toward me with the force of a comet, and for a split second, I wasn't sure if I could stop it.
But I wasn't going to back down.
Channeling every ounce of strength I had, I unleashed a torrent of purple fire that collided with the arrow mid-air. The impact shook the ground, the resulting explosion of light and flame forcing both of us to shield our eyes.
When the dust settled, I stood in the center of the courtyard, my flames still flickering around me. Lise was on one knee, her bow lowered and a grin on her face despite the outcome.
"Well," she said, panting slightly. "Looks like you've got the fire to match the name."
I smirked, extending a hand to help her up. "Told you not to underestimate me."
She took my hand, her grip firm. "Fine, Mini-Zephara. You win this round. But don't think this is over."
Leora's voice rang out from the castle doorway, exasperated but amused. "If you're done destroying my courtyard, maybe you'd like to come back inside and act like civilized demons?"
Lise and I exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.
"Yeah, yeah," Lise called back, waving dismissively toward the castle where Leora stood with her arms crossed and an exaggerated look of impatience.
I dusted myself off, the faint embers of my flames still flickering around me as I walked. My muscles ached, but the rush of victory and adrenaline dulled the discomfort. Lise kept pace beside me, grinning like she hadn't just been thoroughly bested.
That was when I heard the distinct sound of someone clearing their throat.
Loudly.
We both froze mid-step. Slowly, I turned around to see Aeliana standing a few paces away, arms crossed, one eyebrow arched high enough to practically touch the sky.
"Well," she began, her voice sweet but laced with dangerous undertones, "don't let me interrupt. Clearly, I wasn't needed for...whatever *that* was."
Lise snorted, struggling to hold back laughter, while I immediately felt a pang of guilt—and maybe a little fear.
"Aeliana," I started, raising my hands in mock surrender. "I was going to invite you—"
"You were going to invite me?" she interrupted, her violet eyes narrowing. "Before or after the ground exploded? Because I distinctly remember standing *right here* when the two of you marched off to set the courtyard on fire without so much as a word."
Lise gave up trying to hold back her laughter, doubling over as a snort escaped her. "Oh, I like her," she said, grinning. "She's got bite."
"That's not helping," I muttered to her through clenched teeth before turning back to Aeliana. "Look, I'm sorry, alright? It all happened kind of fast, and, uh..."
"And you forgot about me," Aeliana finished for me, her tone a perfect mix of mock hurt and teasing. "I see how it is."
I groaned. "I didn't forget about you! Lise just—"
"Oh, don't blame me," Lise chimed in, still grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "I just issued the challenge. You're the one who got all fiery and dramatic. Besides, she looks way too composed to actually be mad."
Aeliana shot Lise a glare, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You're not off the hook either," she said. "Next time you want to challenge *my fiancée*, maybe let me know first?"
Lise raised her hands innocently. "Noted."
Leora's voice echoed again from the castle. "Are you coming inside, or should I start writing invitations for your next duel?"
I winced. "We're coming!"
Turning back to Aeliana, I reached out, my hand brushing her arm. "Really, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you out. Can I make it up to you?"
She let out a dramatic sigh, her teasing smile breaking through at last. "You're lucky I'm too tired to hold a grudge. But you owe me."
"I'll cook dinner," I offered immediately.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Now that's an apology I'll accept."
"Good," I said, slipping my arm around her waist. "Let's go inside before Leora starts yelling again."
Lise trailed behind us, still chuckling softly to herself. "I can't wait to tell Zephara about this. Mini-Zephara has a soft side. Who knew?"
I groaned, but Aeliana just laughed, her earlier annoyance melting away entirely. Together, the three of us headed back to the castle, where Leora stood waiting, a mix of exasperation and amusement on her face.
At least the courtyard was still (mostly) intact.